ARTIST STATEMENT

My work is focused on subjects of horror and violence. Topics like these create a strong reaction from the viewer, whom I wish to become intrigued and disturbed by the work. My works often try to emulate what inspires me, such as various horror projects from a variety of sources like Vermis, No I Am Not A Human, Fear and Hunger, Yellowjackets, Look Outside, and Tales From The Loop. Depictions of animals are common throughout my works, harkening to the fact that I am depicting the more animalistic parts of humans. My artworks are often ways for me to challenge the boundaries of what is seen as art and to have the viewer find the beauty within the grotesque. My process for choosing medium and method is heavily reliant on the piece I am creating. If more smooth and less rigid lines are needed for the piece, then I’ll usually choose charcoal for a drawing and oil paint for a painting. This results in a final product that is close to what I picture in my head. For composition, I think of the placement of props and individuals within movie stills, and which structure could portray the emotion I want in the piece. A work of mine that is emblematic of my subject and process is “Werewolf Skin” (2024). In this painting, there is a depiction of a nude lady wearing a decapitated wolf head while walking through an empty street, wielding a bloody axe. I manage to explore the themes of horror and violence while having a narrative that is open-ended and can have a variety of different interpretations. I enjoy being able to have the audience form their own meaning and their own life experiences that influence their inference. My interpretations of the work are also portrayed in the piece. For instance, I find the artwork “Werewolf Skin” to be a depiction of an evil spirit haunting the streets from when she was alive.